Judge keeps address of Aaron Hernandez's cousin sealed

Judge E. Susan Garsh granted the request, saying that releasing Tanya Singleton's address would be likely to result in "immediate and irreparable injury to the defendant."

Brian Fraga Herald News Staff Reporter @BfragaHN

FALL RIVER -

A judge has sealed Tanya Singleton’s address from the public record out of concern for her privacy and safety.

Singleton’s lawyer, E. Peter Parker, said disclosing her residence would result in a “massive and unwarranted invasion of privacy.”

“The court should have no doubt that the media immediately would publish her whereabouts, swarm to the address, camp out, attempt to obtain interviews and take photographs,” Parker wrote in a motion he filed Monday in Fall River Superior Court.

Judge E. Susan Garsh granted Parker’s request, saying that releasing Singleton’s address would be likely to result in “immediate and irreparable injury to the defendant.”

Garsh added that Singleton would “likely to be overwhelmed and significantly burdened” by “scores of persons standing at all hours, outside, near and around the residence.”

Singleton, the cousin of former Patriots star tight end Aaron Hernandez, is charged with criminal contempt and conspiracy to commit accessory after the fact.

Singleton was released last week on GPS monitoring after she posted $15,000 cash bail. By a court order, she is allowed to live in Franklin while her case is pending.

Hernandez, 24, who is charged with murder for the June 2013 slaying of Odin Lloyd in North Attleborough, rented a condominium — what a codefendant called a “flophouse”— in Franklin, where police said they found ammunition and other evidence, according to court documents.

Parker said the media has tried to obtain Singleton’s address since her release, and noted a recent Google search that turned up 800,000 search results for Singleton.

“Her privacy rights are not diminished by virtue of the criminal charges lodged against her,” said Parker, who argued that disclosing her address would create privacy and security risks for Singleton, who is undergoing treatment for cancer and has two young children.

Parker also said Singleton should be afforded similar protections as prosecutors’ witnesses in murder cases.

“Emotions run high and dangers are inherent in any murder prosecution,” Parker wrote.

Singleton is scheduled to appear in court Friday morning for motion hearings, according to court records. Hernandez, who is being held without bail, also has a motion hearing scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Friday in Fall River Superior Court.